To the Honourable the Committee of Safety

The Memorial of the Captains employed in the Provincial Armed Boats humbly sheweth ー That they do not presume, nor would they by any means be understood by any One, to presume to dictate to them, whom they apprehend to have the sole Power of appointing any Gentleman they may think proper to the chief Command of the Armed Boats,² yet they hope that they will be allowed, without giving the least Offence to any One of the Honourable Board, to offer a few things in their own Behalf; but would first observe, that it is not out of any dislike or disaffection to the Person, Character or Abilities, of the Gentleman it is reported will be appointed to that Command, but purely to vindicate their own Characters & Honour, from any unjust Aspersions, that may be thrown upon them by Persons out of Doors, who may be entirely ignorant of the Matter or Cause of it ー therefore they would observe ー

1st That when the Gentlemen who are honoured with the Command of those Boats first entered into the Service, it must be obvious to all, that it could not be out of any lucrative Views, but solely to serve the common Cause as far as lay in their power, & fondly hope their Conduct as yet, has not been blamed or disapproved off by any of your Board ー

2d That ever since their Appointment they have found the greatest Harmony to subsist among the Officers & Men belonging to all the Boats, untill the other Night, when laying at the Island, on hearing the Report of a Commodore, who had not before belonged to any of the Boats, to be appointed, they conceive they have now some Cause to believe it will not long remain so among the Crews, tho' at same time they assure the Honourable Board, they will use every Endeavour to prevent any murmuring in their respective Boats ー

3d They are of Opinion that there may be some of the Gentlemen already belonging to the Boats, who may be equally as well qualified for the Command, as perhaps many that can now be found in the Places, & were in hopes, that the eldest Captain would be appointed to the Command, & in Case of Removal by Death or otherwise, to be succeeded by the next eldest in Command, except found undeserving, which they apprehend to be the general Custom in the Navy, and are of Opinion it would tend to excite a Spirit of Bravery and Emulation among the Officers. ー but this they humbly submitt to the Determination of the Board ー

Gentlemen ー We have already declared & must again repeat it, that the incontestable Right of appointing to any Command in the Armed Boats, must & does belong to you, and that we never had any the least Intention in presenting this our undigested Memorial, drawn up in a Hurry, & in many Parts incorrect & imperfect, to give the least Umbrage or Offence, to any Gentleman of your Honourable Board, but only to pray if it is not already too late, & that it can be done with Propriety, that you will be pleased to reconsider our Case ー We are Gentlemen [&c.]  Philada October the 30th 1775